Q. When we are raptured, do you believe our present bodies remain behind here on earth? I’ve wondered if there will be dead bodies everywhere with those left alive here on earth to try and determine the cause of their death. Thanks for your answer.

Q. My Bible has a footnote on John 11:26, about which I have a question. The footnote claims that the phrase ‘shall never die’ refers to the second death of Revelation 2:11 and 20: 6. But to me the phrase suggests the rapture. Your opinion, please.

Q. I was reading John 17: 15 where Jesus is saying his prayer is not for believers to be taken out of this world but for God to protect them from the evil one while they are here on earth. This prayer appears as if Jesus didn’t have a thought of believers being raptured at some point. Why did Jesus pray for us not to be taken out of this world if he knew that at some time he will come to rapture us? Also, in the Lords prayer of Matt. 6:9-13 He speaks about praying for the Kingdom of God to come on earth and His will be done on earth. What is the use of praying this prayer for the kingdom to come on earth if we are going to be raptured anyway? Can you please give your opinion on these passages?

Q. In an email from a Christian lady, about the rapture, she said that her Pastor had once told her, “We need to be watching and waiting. Those are the ones that He is coming back to get.” Of course she couldn’t give me any “chapter and verse” Bible backup, but she certainly believes that many Christians will not be taken in the rapture for that reason. What can I tell her that won’t send her away crying? She has hope, but she needs “peace.”

Q. In your opinion, would it be possible that the whole rapture process consists of two events: the resurrection of the dead occurring in Revelation 4 and the disappearance of living believers occurring in Revelation 6:12? I ask this because 1 Thes. 4:17 says, Then (after the resurrection) we which are alive and remain shall be caught up. This seems to say there could be a period of time between the two events.

Q. I used to hold to the pre-trib position simply because I was taught it and given a few “fine threads” of “evidence?” After wiping the slate clean and letting Scripture speak, I have come to the conclusion that there are too many problems and passages I can’t explain if I hold to that view. For example, I was taught that 2 Thessalonians 2:7 which is often used to “prove” the rapture since “the one restraining is taken away” must be the rapture of the church. The problem with that is the verb translated “taken away” doesn’t mean that at all, it’s the verb ginomai which is never translated “taken away”. It always refers to birth, or coming into existence. What do you say in response to this?

Q. My daughter has begun attending a church where the Pastor doesn’t believe in the rapture. He says if large numbers of people were suddenly taken it would cause the deaths of many others. Example: a pilot or bus driver. I know some believe in pre trib, mid trib and post trib rapture but never heard of a teaching of no rapture.

Q. Re: The rapture. I’ve found a lot of people believe that Christians will simply vanish from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. Is there Biblical revelation of this “disappearance” or is it just our assumption? Could it be that we believers could all simultaneously die, thus meeting the Lord in the air spiritually, leaving our bodies here?

Q. What effect do you think the Rapture will have on American Jews as far as their return to Israel is concerned? If I understand correctly this prophecy will not be completely fulfilled until after Ezek. 38. However, do you think the Rapture will also influence their decision somewhat? Also, do you think this will be another reason why America’s global influence will be lessened, along with the Rapture?

Q. For a while now I’ve been pondering “the fullness of the Gentiles”. You have spoken on the differences between believers (the Body of Christ/the Church) as distinct from Jewish people and Gentile people who trust in Christ during the Tribulation. Since there will still be those two groups of people during this time, why do the Gentiles not figure into “the fullness” right through the Tribulation? Would not those Gentiles be counted as well in that “fullness”? And, the Rapture would then have nothing to do with this count?

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